Elvis Is Back. And He Plays The Bassoon.

Sept. 15, 2007 - PRLog -- Great Noise Ensemble starts their third season with a bang as bassoonist Alan Michels dons the mantle- and the jumpsuit- of The King for Michael Daugherty’s Dead Elvis. “I’ve performed and enjoyed the thematic basis for Dead Elvis, Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale, but I didn’t identify with the protagonist–I’ve never wanted to sell my soul to the devil for a violin,” says Michels. “On the other hand, I’m absolutely willing to sell my soul to the god of rock and roll bassoon–or the god of glittery Las Vegas jumpsuits. Highest bidder!”

In their season opener and the inaugural concert of Catholic University’s “New Music at CUA” series, Great Noise Ensemble also presents soloists Kristen Williams and Katherine Kellert from within their own ranks as well as guest artists Duo 46 and Steven Leffue in a program of concertos and features. Michels kicks off the program, followed by new music pair Duo 46, who join the group for the world premiere of their commission, Armando Bayolo’s re-imagining of the Brandenburg Concertos, Concerto a Due. Kristen Williams takes to the keyboard in Emanuella Ballio’s Comme pour jeu…, Steven Leffue performs the late master Luciano Berio’s Sequenza VIIb for saxophone, and clarinetist Katherine Kellert closes the program with John Adams’s pyrotechnic concerto Gnarly Buttons.

“One of our goals as a new music group is to promote the talents of our members as well as the up and coming composers we’ve programmed. Great Noise Ensemble is made up of some of the finest young musicians in the Washington area, most of whom are still relatively unknown to the general public,” says group founder and conductor Armando Bayolo. “'Show Offs' presents an opportunity to shine the spotlight on a handful of this group’s versatile and vibrant members. Dead Elvis is a great showcase for Alan’s sense of humor as well as his bassoon chops. Comme pour jeu… reflects Kristen Williams’ eclectic musical personality. Gnarly Buttons is a great fit for Katherine Kellert, because it shows off both the lighter and more profound sides of her musicianship. Duo 46 is really plugged in to the new music scene and a great advocate for new music in general, and Concerto a Due shows off their incredible individual and ensemble dynamic.”

Admission for this event is free to the general public.

New Music at CUA presents
Great Noise Ensemble in
Show Offs!
Saturday, September 29, 2007: 8 PM
Ward Hall, The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music
Free admission.

Website: www.greatnoiseensemble.com